Blueberry plant named ‘Velluto Blue’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct rabbiteye blueberry variety is described. The variety results from selection among a population of seedlings derived from the controlled crossing of the blueberry varieties ‘Maru’ (not patented) and ‘Briteblue’ (not patented). The fruit of this new variety has an attractive appearance characterised by outstanding fruit quality with a good bloom and little grittiness, and medium to late fruiting season. The new variety appears suitable for the medium to late fresh fruit market and has been named ‘Velluto Blue’.

Genus and species of plant claimed: Vaccinium corymbosum.

Variety denomination: ‘VELLUTO BLUE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety was selected from among a population of seedlingsderived from the deliberate crossing of the varieties named ‘Maru’ (notpatented) as the seed parent and ‘Briteblue’ (not patented) as thepollen parent, located at Ruakura, Hamilton, New Zealand. F128 wasidentified as having potential as a new variety and was asexuallypropagated by cuttings. The plant was first asexually reproduced bypersonnel of The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food ResearchLimited located at the research centre at Bisley Road, Ruakura,Hamilton, New Zealand. The resulting plants were subsequently found tobe true to type demonstrating that the characteristics of the newvariety are stable and transmitted without change through succeedinggenerations. Since the initial propagation in vitro propagation has alsobeen carried out successfully. F128 was later given the denomination‘Velluto Blue’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘Velluto Blue’ is characterised by its attractive fruit with outstandingquality and flavour along with little grittiness and mid to late harvestseason. ‘Velluto Blue’ is distinguished from a number of other varietiesby the following characteristics:

The fruit of ‘Velluto Blue’ are larger than those of ‘Centurion’ (notpatented) and ‘Powderblue’ (not patented) though of a similar averagesize to ‘Centra Blue’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,515).

The shape of ‘Velluto Blue’ fruit is oblate while those of ‘Centra Blue’are oblong to round, ‘Velluto Blue’ was also observed to have a higheraverage Brix level than ‘Centra Blue’.

The new variety was determined to be distinct from the parent varieties‘Maru’ by its greater plant vigour, later fruit flowering, and higheryields, and ‘Briteblue’ by its later harvest period.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the plant,foliage and fruit of the new variety as depicted in colours as nearlytrue as is reasonably possible to make the same in a colour illustrationof this character. Unless otherwise specified, the photographs depictmature (5 year old) plants or juvenile (<2 year old) plants grown at,Ruakura, Hamilton, New Zealand.

FIG. 1 shows ‘Velluto Blue’ plants a) mature, and b) juvenile.

FIG. 2 shows ‘Velluto Blue’ flowers a) whole, b) longitudinal section,c) typical flowering branch.

FIG. 3 shows fruit of ‘Velluto Blue’ on the plant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The observations, unless otherwise specified, were made in the2009-2010, 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons on 5 year old plants grown atRuakura, Hamilton, New Zealand. All dimensions in millimetres, weightsin grams (unless otherwise stated). Colour terminology is in accordancewith The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Charts (R.H.S.C.C.) 2001edition.

Plant and Foliage

This hexaploid plant is generally semi-upright in growth habit, ofmedium to high vigour compared to ‘Maru’. Plants have been observed tobe taller in their development compared with other commercial varieties,such as, ‘Maru’ (not patented); plants 1 m to 1.5 m in height have beenobserved.

The surface texture of immature canes is smooth while the surfacetexture of mature canes is peeling; the bark of plant stem becomespeeling as the wood matures. The colour of immature canes is nearR.H.S.C.C. Greyed-Green 195A. The colour of the bark of mature canes isnear R.H.S.C.C. Greyed-Orange 174B.

The mature leaf is lanceolate in shape and typically averages 60-65 mmin length and approximately 35 mm in width. The margins generally have aminor serration, with moderate and uniform glossiness on the uppersurface. The upper surface of the leaf is near R.H.S.C.C. Green 136A incolour. The petiole typically averages 3.3 mm in length.

Inflorescence

The average number of flower buds per branch is 14 with an observedrange of 10-21.

Flowers are generally clustered and the typical flower averages 6.3 mmin diameter and 8.6 mm in height, with the opening of the floweraveraging 3.6 mm across. The shape of the corolla is campanulate. Themain colour of the petals on fully open mature flowers is nearR.H.S.C.C. White 155C. The anthocyanin coloration of the flower bud isweak, with no anthocyanin coloration of the corolla tube observed.Ridges are present on the corolla tube. The stigma extends out of thecorolla in some instances. The anther coloration is near R.H.S.C.C.Yellow-Orange 23A.

Fruit

The fruit are of large size compared to that typical of other Rabbiteyeblueberry varieties, averaging approximately 2.4 g (observed range2.1-2.9 g). Fruiting occurs on one year old shoots only; flowers do notoccur on current season's shoots. The time of beginning of fruitripening on one year old shoots is late, similar to that on ‘Maru’.

Generally fruit is oblate in shape with an average diameter ofapproximately 18 mm (observed range 16.2-20.4 mm).

Unripe fruit is coloured near R.H.S.C.C. Yellow-Green 145 A.

The pedicel scar is very small, approximately 2.2 mm, similar to that of‘Centurion’ and ‘Centra Blue’ fruit. The scar is generally dry.

Ripe fruit has an attractive intensity of bloom. Fruit colour is lightblue with the bloom intact, near R.H.S.C.C. Blue group 102 D, and blueblack (near R.H.S.C.C. Blue group 103 A) with the bloom removed similarto ‘Maru’.

Sepals are erect to semi-erect in attitude, and are incurving asobserved in the variety ‘Delite’ (not patented). The diameter of thecalyx basin is medium, similar to that observed in the variety‘Powderblue’ (not patented), while the calyx basin is shallow in depth.

The fruit sweetness (Brix level) averaged 12.8% (observed range12.7-13.1 Brix). Overall, flavour has been observed to be balancedbetween sweetness and acidity.

Fruit is generally firm, similar to ‘Centurion’ and ‘Maru’.

Yield is high, averaging approximately 8 Kg (observed range 6-12 Kg) perplant, this was observed to be higher than that of ‘Maru’ and ‘Rahi’plants of similar age under New Zealand growing conditions. Theself-compatibility of the new variety has not been tested byself-crossing the variety. However, it is recommended to associate theplant with other varieties with similar flowering timing to maximisepollination and fruit set.

Events

Vegetative bud burst occurred around 21^(st) August under New Zealandgrowing conditions.

Time of beginning flowering was around 30^(th) August, with the 50% offlowering around the 18^(th) of September. This was slightly earlierthan both ‘Maru’ (50% flowering occurring around 21^(st) September) and‘Centurion’ (50% flowering occurring around 25^(th) September).

Maturity period: medium to late; fruit commenced ripening on trialplants at Ruakura, Hamilton, New Zealand in the first week of Februaryreaching the 50% of blue fruit on the plant around the 15^(th) ofFebruary. The time of fruit ripening occurs 2 weeks after that in NewZealand for ‘Maru’ (not patented) and one week to ten days after‘Centurion’ (not patented).

Pest and Disease

The plant does not seem to be susceptible to rust (Pucciniastrumvaccinii). No symptoms of anthracnose or Botryosphaeria have beenobserved under New Zealand growing conditions.

Additional Description

The main harvest period is generally medium to late compared with otherrabbiteye varieties and it is of long duration under the New Zealandgrowing conditions. The variety has been observed to be suited toproduction of blueberries for fresh consumption.

The plant cold hardiness according to the American zone classificationhas not been determined. However, the chilling requirement of ‘VellutoBlue’ has been estimated to be between 500-700 hours.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct blueberry plantsubstantially as illustrated and described.